DIY Summer Porch Decor Ideas

One of the things that signals the arrival of summer around here is opening my back porch. It is truly an outdoor room and consists of screens, a cement floor and a hinged screen door that slams when you go in or out. It’s a long and narrow room…and the honest truth is that it doesn’t have much going for it. Over the years, I have collected wicker furniture and accessories to make this space live like an indoor room. Anyone can take these DIY Porch Decor Ideas and do the same. This year I’m a little late, but the porch is open!

There were not big changes or improvements this year. After a good cleaning, I was able to put the room together in about an hour. I store the cushions and accessories in big bins in my garage. After several trips back and forth, from the garage to the porch, it was feeling like home.

The vintage wicker sofa was a Craigslist find. I recovered the cushions with a vintage matelasse quilt. The chairs are part of a set my family gave me the first year we lived here…25 years ago. I found the striped pillows at TJ Maxx and there was no way I could resist them. The furniture arrangement is a bit different from last year so the room feels fresh. Just moving one or two pieces can give a room a completely different feel.

Of course having the peonies in bloom helps up the freshness factor tremendously! I always try to have garden flowers on the porch because they really do make any room feel welcoming. I’m the only one who uses this room, so taking the time to cut some flowers is a little present I give myself.

The dresser belonged to my Grandmother and lived on her back porch. Her back porch was more of a walk-through. There were hooks to hang coats, shelves for storage and this dresser. It was painted brown and held nails, screws, rubberbands, old tools and all sorts of other wonderful stuff. When she passed away, no one wanted it so I brought it home. It moved around our house until a few years ago when I decided to paint it white and use it on the porch. Somehow it seemed appropriate that the dresser moved from her porch to mine.

The old garden gate has a very special story behind it. I brought it home from my daughter’s house and it is one of my favorite things. Ever.

When I shared my Coffee Table Succulent Garden I mentioned that I hoped to use it on the back porch. I switched from a wood tray to a weather-proof metal tray (from IKEA) and I think it’s perfect. I can easily move it out to the deck when it needs some sun.

Hi. Loved the posts. I think I’m the one who wasn’t getting mail but aren’t you linked to StoneGable ? For a post? So I think that’s why it didn’t register I was missing out. I do know I got the banana bread one but having a recipe for some thirty years and my girls love I did skip. I’m not hmmm really able to follow a recipe anymore. I loved the porch one. I have yet to get our patio rug traded out nor use it. Somehow we went from a bit chilly to HOT over night!!!! Now it’s in 100’s but to be 111 on Tuesday. Just tooooo hot. I don’t know. Spam on yahoo was getting through right and left and no spam folder to put it in. Just trash. Unbelievable amount. One day I looked though and a devotional that’s in my contacts no graphics was in spam. Hopefully I can still get your hard work as I always enjoy. Sincerely, Gwen Ps. On porch I loved gate over dresser!!!!

I LOVE everything about your porch, Ann! A perfect place to sit and relax-read a book, or enjoy a glass of sweet tea. I especially enjoyed reading that many of the pieces on your porch have such special meaning. Isn’t it wonderful to be surrounded by such wonderful history?!

What a beautiful porch! We hope to add a sunroom or screened in porch to the side of our farmhouse someday, and this is almost exactly what I envision it would look like! The wicker furniture is amazing, but that gate definitely steals the show! I love the story behind it, too.

I enjoy your simple inviting style! Clean and fresh. You have inspired me! I had decided not to use my tired cushions this year, but you have inspired me to cover them. I have a quilt I can use to cover them and pillow shams to match. I will repurpose them too! You have made my day! I am excited! And getting to see your gorgeous peonies is icing on the cake.Thank you, Ann. Have a great weekend.

I particularly like your story about your vintage garden gate. I have two like it that came with my 1937 stone Tudor style home. I bought my home over 19 years ago and the back yard was surrounded by a pitiful wire garden fence in bad shape with two gates in perfect condition. I replaced the fence with a wooden one but saved the gates. Anyway, my husband and I bought a small cabin in the Daniel Boone National Forest last year and we are still remodeling it inside and out. Our back porch is long but narrow with very steep steps. It just happens that the garden gate fits the opening to the porch steps perfectly and now has a new life there. It looks wonderful and serves to keep us safe from an accidental fall. I love seeing it and using it again.

The porch is simply wonderful. Reminds me of the one I grew up in. Wicker funiture, the dresser. I have a porch on my home, but is open to the elements. I have chairs and such and two porch swings, but keep the cushions under wraps till we use them. Karla

Loved seeing your porch, Ann. There is something special about having a porch that is used only during “nice” weather – it becomes a vacation/relaxation spot. We call ours the sun porch and eat many happy meals there, read, and even nap. Everything about it brings me joy. I have my grandmother’s wicker fernery and a small table made from a crate that came from her back porch where her wringer washing machine was housed. I also enjoyed reading the posts about the gaden gate and your daughter’s first home. Lovely!

What an incredible space. I grew up in the south and love a screened in porch. Yours is such a lovely retreat. I can imagine having a cup of coffee there in the morning or reading there on a sunny afternoon. I really, really love this space especially the wicker furniture and the rug. Love the story behind the gate and the dresser. It looks perfect in this space.

Love your porch I just got mine cleaned and ready to go also. We live on the porch during the warmer months nothing better for the soul than a good cup of coffee in the morning newspaper and listen to birds singing.

Ann, First I would like to say that I love your blog and everything that you create. You have inspired me to be more creative in my crafting. Second, I see on your porch that you have a white cabinet. Do you leave this out all year or do you store it out of the weather? I have an antique radio that was my daddy’s, that my momma once “antiqued”. I would like to keep it on my back porch/patio, but it will be exposed to our hot, southern, summer weather, I’m from Mississippi. What can I paint it with that will allow me to do this?

I love your porch. It looks so inviting. I think it’s great that you have pieces with such great meaning, like the dresser and the gate. The summer banner looks so pretty. I know you enjoy sitting out there.

Love this porch! WHY wouldn’t your family use this room? It does feel like home, and OH your memories within the porch.

Our porch is furnished and used ALL seasons and living in Delaware it can be rainy, snowy or just plain COLD. I have the same type of porch (ours was a carport on a ’50’s cape cod), that we screened as you described about your porch. Now imagine everyone walks through this porch (back door) to enter your doll house (home) in all seasons. The porch needs to be dressed for all seasons! Give me some hints for decorating or styling the other 3 seasons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please!

Good Morning Ann~ I love old treasures. I have a few myself. I love that you have your grandmother’s dresser. Using it from her porch to your porch. Looks beautiful by the way. I took an old window 1949 from the house we grew up in a few years ago and use it over my mantle as a mirror. Also I have my mother-in-laws dining room set. It is a treasure – I think about painting it, but my girls would disown me. Have a beautiful day. Rose

Love your back porch, Ann! It’s so colorful and inviting. I can’t believe you are the only one who uses this room. I’m missing Ohio, so I just might drop in and visit awhile! I would love to hear all of your back porch stories.

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